Community Calendar

Email your events to be included in our calendar tocalendar@hattiesburgamerican.com, fax to (601) 584-3130 or mail to Calendar c/o Hattiesburg American, 825 N. Main St., Hattiesburg, MS 39401. Please submit at least one week before the event. Be sure to include a phone number where you can be contacted if we need more information. Calendar items cannot be submitted over the phone.

? Meeting: Hattiesburg Council of Neighborhoods meets every second Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center. Guest speakers from city departments or other organizations usually speak. Public is invited. Details: hburgcon@hotmail.com.

? Meeting: Pinebelt Radio Control Model Airplane Club meets and flies every Sunday afternoon at Purvis-Oloh Road flying field. Details: 818-2410 or www.pinbeltrc.com.

? Meeting: Support groups for those grieving a death resulting from a homicide are held monthly in the Hattiesburg, Bassfield and Waynesboro areas. For details, including times and places, call The Shafer Center's Sharing Our Strength Homicide Program at 264-7777.

? Meeting: Hattiesburg Jaycees, 6 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month, 208 N. Hutchinson Ave. Membership is open to anyone 18-40 who would like to put their passion into action and make positive change happen in their lives, communities and around the world. Details: 336-0527 or hattiesburgjaycees@gmail.com.

? Event: The American Legion, Post 146, Petal, holds dances every Saturday, starting at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. with live band. Admission is $5. Details: Van at (205) 335-7274.

? Event: The Bikers Church holds a free ride each second Sunday of the month. Riders meet at exit 57 at Keith's gas station. Details: Beth Hickman (228) 832-8509.

? Meeting: Support group meeting for the families of inmates. Details: the Rev. Mike Farris at 543-7745 or email hattiesburgprisonministry@gmail.com.

? Meeting: The Pine Belt Doll Collectors Club meets at 3 p.m. every fourth Sunday of the month. This month's meeting is at the Doll Corner of Calico Antique Mall, 309 E. Pine St. Details: 584-6422.

? Meeting: Overeaters Anonymous, 5:30 p.m., every Monday and Thursday, Open Door Church on Oak Grove Road. The group follows a 12-step program, and meetings last one hour. Details: 268-9148.

? Meeting: Stone County Lions Club meets at noon the first Monday and 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at Western Sizzler in Wiggins. Potential new members welcome.

? Story times: Family Story Times are at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays at Oak Grove Public Library. The same program is held on both days.

? Story times: Story Time, 10 a.m. Wednesdays, Hattiesburg Library, 329 Hardy St.

? Story times: Story Time, 10 a.m. Thursdays, Petal Library, 714 S. Main St.

? Rehearsal: The Meistersingers rehearsals are at 6:30 p.m. Mondays in the Mannoni Performing Arts Center choral room at the University of Southern Mississippi. Details: 582-5555.

? Meeting: Forrest County Democratic Party Executive Committee meets the second Monday of the month at 6 p.m., first floor of Paul B. Johnson Chancery Court Building, 641 Main St. Public is welcome. Details: H.C. Johnson, 466-8651.

Today-April 11

? Event: One Harvest Food Program, hosted by Christian Services Inc. This ministry/program makes it possible for families to save 35 percent to 50 percent on weekly food costs with no age or income qualifications to meet. April menu includes such items as a family box for $37.50 or a chicken special box for $21.50, plus much more. Orders may be placed at the Christian Services Inc. office with cash, check or EBT card by April 11. You may also order online with a credit or debit card at www.oneharvest.com. The deadline to order online is April 14. Distribution is from 9:30-11:30 a.m. April 20 at Christian Services, 301 E. Second St.

? Event: 66th Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt, 9 a.m., Vernon Dahmer Park, sponsored by Hattiesburg Lions Club and City of Hattiesburg Parks and Recreation Department, for children ages 3-12. All children must be accompanied by an adult. The Easter Bunny will be there. Take a basket to collect eggs. Details: sjones@hattiesburgms.com.

? Event: "Spring Garden Tablescapes," noon-1 p.m., Lamar County Extension Office. Speaker is Lynette McDougald, instructor and manager, The University Florist. Create a tablescape from containers, decorative objects and floral designs. Participants may create a "Make Along" design with McDougald. For a materials list go to www.msucares.com/Distance/Education/Quick or the Lamar County Extensive Office. Bring a lunch.

? Event: Pine Woods Audubon Society Meeting, 7 p.m., Hattiesburg Zoo's Education Center. Staff from Audubon Mississippi and the Pascagoula River Audubon Center will discuss the impact of the Gulf oil spill, how Audubon responded and what the recent passage of the RESTORE Act means for habitat restoration in the Gulf. Public welcome.

? Event: Friday Lunch Program, 11 a.m.-noon, Crosby Arboretum, Picayune. MSU Area Horticulture Extension Agent Wayne Porter will discuss using wild flowers in the landscape. Free for members, $5 for non-members. Register by April 4. Also on Friday, volunteers will hold their monthly meeting at 8 a.m. and prepare strawberries for the Strawberry and Cream Festival on April 7. New volunteers are welcome. To register or for information, call 799-2311.

April 6

? Event: Pancakes for Parkinson's, hosted by the American Marketing Association of University of Southern Mississippi before the USM vs. Tulane baseball game, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in the Student Center. Proceeds go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

? Event: Dr. Charles Allen will speak on "Edible and Useful Plants of the Gulf South," as part of the Crosby Arboretum Lecture Series at Margaret Reed Crosby Library in Picayune, 10-11:30 a.m. Guests can sample a variety of plants, teas and spices. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members. To register, call 799-2311 or visit www.crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu.

? Event: War and Society Roundtable, 6 p.m., Hattiesburg Library. "The Blitz: The British Under Attack," by Juliet Gardiner. Details: Kenneth Swope, 266-5467 or kenneth.swope@usm.edu.

April 10-13

? Event: Midsouth Star Gaze and Astronomy Conference, Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium, French Camp. This event attracts serious amateur and professional astronomers from all over the U.S. It is held under one of the darkest skies in the southeast just off the beautiful Natchez Trace Parkway. $45 registration fee. Registration and reservations for food, on-site lodging and camping can be made by calling 662-547-9988 or guestservices@frenchcamp.org.

April 11

? Forum: Hattiesburg Council of Neighborhoods' candidates forum, 6 p.m., Saenger Theater, 201 Forrest Street. All candidates who have announced for mayor or city council are invited to speak. Event will also include a question-and-answer period at end of program. Details: hburgcon@hotmail.com.

? Event: Seventh Annual "Laughter and Lagniappe" Crawfish Boil, 6:30 p.m., Petal Civic Center. Sponsored by the Petal Education Foundation. Tickets: $15. The night will begin with browsing for live auction items. Supper includes spicy crawfish with corn on the cob, red potatoes, fixings and desserts. Chicken strips also available. Tickets can be purchased at the Petal School District Central Office or from a Petal Education Foundation board member. Details: Leahne Lightsey, 545-3002 or leahne.lightsey@petalschools.com.

? Event: AARP Driver Safety Classroom Course for those 50 and older, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Wesley Medical Center 1-Asbury Center Building. $12 for AARP members, $14 for non-members. Make check or money order payable to AARP. No cash. At the completion of the course, you'll receive a certificate good for three years, which may entitle you to a discount on your auto insurance. To register or for more information call Eleanor Harris at 582-2300.

? Event: The Friends of the Jones County Public Libraries will host James Meredith, author of "A Mission from God: A Memoir and Challenge," noon, Laurel-Jones County Library. After his presentation, he will sign his books. For details, call 428-4313, ext. 106.

? Meeting: Mississippi Alopecia Areata Support Group will hold it next meeting in Hattiesburg, noon, Lamar County Richburg Voting Precinct/ Community Center, 324 Sandy Run Road. Organizers remind participants to come hungry for a cookout. Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disease that results in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. Details: 530-2020 or visit Facebook Mississippi Alopecia Areata Support Group.

? Event: Young Adult Book Club, noon-1 p.m., Hattiesburg Library. "The Glory Fields" by Walter Dean Myers will be discussed.

? Event: "Gardening for Birds and Butterflies," 12 noon-1 p.m., Lamar County Extension Office. Join Dr. Wayne Porter, Area Extension Agent as he talks about how to select the best plants to attract birds and butterflies. Bring a lunch.

? Event: 2013 Undergraduate Research Conference, University of Southern Mississippi. Showcasing student research across the university. All current undergraduates who have conducted or are conducting original research can participate.

? Concert: City of Hattiesburg Concert Band Free Concert, 3 p.m., Saenger Theater. Guest conductor Brian Stiffler of Biloxi conducting his original composition. Also performed will be the music of Verdi, Rimsky-Korasakov, selections from Les Miserables and the big band era.

in Lake Helen, Fla., at 2 p.m. in the Extension Service Conference Room, Forrest County Multi Purpose Center, U.S. 49 South. In addition to the program, the meeting will feature a plant auction, plant sale, and door prizes. Refreshments are served prior to the beginning of the meeting. Visitors and new members are always welcome. Details: www.hattiesburgdaylily.com.

? Event: "A Night in Italy," hosted by the Rotary Club of Hattiesburg and The Children's Center for Communication and Development, Southern Oaks House & Gardens, 1246 Richburg Road, Hattiesburg, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Dine-in or carry-out a delicious spaghetti dinner, while benefiting these two organizations. Purchase your $10 tickets by calling 266-5222, online at www.usm.edu/childrenscenter or at the door. The Children's Center provides educational services for infants, toddlers and preschoolers with developmental disabilities.

? Event: Author visit, 5:30 p.m., Oak Grove Public Library. John Pendergrass, author of "The Adventures of a Man in his Sixties Competing in Six of the World's Toughest Triathlons Across Six Continents."

? Event: "A History of Kitchen Gardens," 12 noon-1 p.m., Lamar County Extension Office. Brian Templeton, Extension Associate talks about the benefits of home grown produce and kitchen gardens and how they evolved over time. Bring a lunch.

? Event: Deep South Team Roping, Forrest County Multi Purpose Center. Come out and see all the team roping action. The DSTRA is back and this promises to be an exciting event. Will be held in the warm-up arena behind the main arena. For more information visit www.deepsouthteamropers.com.

May 10-12

? Event: Discover the Dinosaurs, Forrest County Multi Purpose Center. Go back in time and learn about the prehistoric past in a fun and exciting show for the whole family. Enter into the world of dinosaurs with exhibits with sound, animatronics, lights and fog. Get up close and touch and feel the exhibits. For more information visit www.discoverthedinosaurs.com